In the second leg of the opening playoff series, the Seattle Sounders
notched a golden goal in the 100th minute to advance 3-2 on aggregate over the top-seeded Portland
Timbers. Portland had won 2-1 at home four nights earlier in the first leg. Welton scored an early
goal in the second leg that held up through 90 minutes to make it 2-2 on aggregate. Then it was
Welton again with the golden goal. Preston Burpo made some fine saves to earn a 100-minute
shutout.

The Sounders advance to take on the Vancouver Whitecaps in the second round of the playoffs,
which serves as the Western Conference Championship Series. The winner of that series will advance
to the A-League Championship match, a single-match round that will be hosted by the Western
finalist.

First Half

5' Welton (Sleeth). It didn't take long for the Sounders to pull even on aggregate.
Jason Farrell from the top of the penalty box fed a nice diagonal ball to the right side for
Billy Sleeth. Open to do what he wanted with the cross, near the end line Sleeth centered it
towards the middle of the 6-yard line and Welton ran in alone to tap it into the open space
available on the far side of the goal. 1-0 Seattle, 2-2 on aggregate.

The Sounders nearly added another goal in the 21st minute. Jonathan Bolaņos' long free kick
from the right side went to the far post, where Roger Levesque headed it on goal. Josh Saunders
made the save, the rebound was shot on goal and rejected by a defender at the post, and then
the ball was knocked over the goal line between the posts, but the Sounders were guilty of
fouling Saunders in the goal area to keep him from getting to the ball.

Jake Sagare gave Portland their first good chance in the 24th when he carried the ball from
the left touch line to the arc, just barely under control much of the run, and managed a low
shot, but it didn't have enough velocity and Burpo dove on it for a save. Alan Gordon forced
another save with a low shot from 25 yards, and Byron Alvarez' header from inside the arc
missed by a few yards.

Then it was Seattle in command for 14 minutes. Ben Somoza's cross to the near post gave
Levesque a chance, but he couldn't get the shot on frame. Jason Farrell's 20-yard try was
blocked by a defender halfway there. Bolaņos took a 25-yard free kick, but wasted it well
over the bar. Farrell's left-footer from 20 yards on the left missed the far post by a yard.

Portland had the last chance of the half when a corner kick was sent to Andrew Gregor at
the top of the box for a shot at the top far corner, and Burpo leaped for a fine save.

Halftime: Seattle 1 - 0 Portland (2-2 on aggregate)

4 minutes into the second half a Portland throw-in play worked the ball close
to goal on the left side, but Burpo ventured wide of goal and dove to win the dangerous ball,
then he pumped his fist at the Timbers Army fans as he got back up to punt the ball.

Seattle's first corner kick of the match came in the 51st minute, and Bolaņos headed it
well wide of the top far corner.

For Portland in the 54th, Gregor from 20 yards on the left took what would be Portland's
best shot, but Burpo made a big save, flying sideways to catch it, fumbling it as the ball
hit the post, and scrambling to pounce on the leftovers just before a Portland attacker could
get there. 5 minutes later Portland had another good chance after the ball was stolen from
Bolaņos and Alvarez was served with only Burpo to beat, but Burpo came way out to stuff the
shot and again claim the leftovers.

Seattle took the momentum in the 66th, beginning with a 30-yarder by Farrell that was
deflected just wide of the post for a corner. A cleared Seattle free kick was served back in
by Danny Jackson and Bolaņos beat the offside trap for a shot from 10 yards on the left, but
he missed a yard wide of the far post when it seemed he had time to shoot accurately. Farrell
bounced a shot on goal that was easily saved. Then Seattle's best shot of the half came when
Levesque fed it ahead to Welton 12 yards from goal for a sideways volley that was aimed just
under the bar, but Saunders made a fine one-handed save, pushing the ball up and to the side.

Portland's offense came back in the 77th with Miranda's 35-yarder up the middle, a couple
of yards high. Then Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar came very close to the top far corner with a shot
from 20 yards on the right.

In the 90th minute, some Seattle fans were calling for a PK when Welton headed a cross
into Lee Morrison's arm inside the box, but it wasn't deliberate and referee Jair Marrufo
was correct in letting play go on. It was a clear case of ball to arm rather than arm to
ball.

Final: Seattle 1 - 0 Portland (2-2 on aggregate)

Extra Time

So after two 90-minute matches, it was 2-2 on agregate, each side winning by a goal at
home. It was on to 30 minutes of golden goal extra time to settle the series. One substitute
entered, Darren Sawatzky for Somoza on Seattle's right side, and it would prove to be a
winning substitution.

Portland shot first when Fadi Afash shot up the middle from 20 yards, and Burpo dove just
wide of the post to catch the ball.

Seattle started pressure on Portland's goal in the 97th when a loose ball in the area
went to an open Welton, who chest-trapped it and shot at the far post where a defender kicked
it clear. A minute later Sawatzky was open on the left for a low 15-yarder that missed the
far post by an inch.

100' Welton (Sawatzky). Bolaņos served the ball towards the right corner for
Sawatzky, who whipped in a cross along the 6-yard line. The cross was just behind Levesque,
who was knocked down as he attempted to play the ball, and Levesque's run served as an
effective dummy, for the cross continued to Welton just wide of the far post. Welton's shot
hit the underside of the crossbar and deflected down into the back of the net for the
series winner.

Q: Great game. Your thoughts?Darren Sawatzky: It's exciting. The playoffs are about which team the ball bounces
for a little bit better and we worked really hard in the overtime to find it. It's
exciting.

Q: What about you personally? Portland had a couple of chances, do you ever
think, "This could be the end of my career?"DS: Of course, but I always think I'm going to make a difference. I went out there
to just try to shake things up, to find a goal, and we found one.

Q: But does it ever go through your mind as they are down at the other end
getting ready to shoot, does the fact that you are retiring ever enter your mind?DS: When I'm playing I'm just thinking about the game. Hopefully we've got three
more games to play and at the end when we're holding up a cup, I'll just smile and think
about retirement.

Q: What about the end of the game? That's like a storybook for you to be
involved in the golden goal.DS: When I started as a pro, I was a sub coming off the bench trying to make an
impact and it's kind of cool that it's come around full circle, and hopefully I can keep
making an impact.

Q: What about the Sounders as a team? It seemed like a switch flipped at some
point and things have turned around.DS: Well, we've had a lot of injuries, we've battled through a lot of stuff, and
I'll tell you what, I don't think we've had one lucky bounce this entire year. But the
Seattle Sounders are in the playoff every year for a reason, it's a good organization,
it's a good group of guys and we know what we're doing when it gets to playoff time.